Shelf structure



' May 6, 1947. R. HALL.

' SHELF sTRUcTURB n Filed lgrml 194.4' @ai ;PatentedMay 6, 194'?-UNI-[Ensures PATENT orma SHELF STRUCTURE Russen M. Hau. Philadelphia,ra., assignmto Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporationofPennsylvania Application March 24, 1944, Serial No. 527,952 6 Claims.(Cl. 2li- 153) This invention relates to shelf structures moreparticularly of the type having means adapted for cooperation with asupporting structure in a manner to provide for mounting the shelfselectively at various levels upon said structure.

More especially, the invention is concerned with the problem of mountinga shelf or shelves -within a conned storage area of standardizeddimensions defined by fixed perpendicular walls as, for example, indomestic refrigerator cabinets, so that the vertical spaces above andbelow a particular shelf or between adjoining shelves may be readilyvaried at will'to accommodate articles diiiering as to the verticaldimension.

The invention has for a primary object the provision of a shelfstructure of the aforesaid type having easily manipulated, inexpensive,and sirnple yet rugged means for facilitating adjustment of the shelf tovarious positions in the supporting structure and for securelymaintaining the shelf in the adjusted position against accidentaldisplacement while in use.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a shelfhaving a plurality of elements arranged for cooperation withcomplementary shelf-supporting means and retractably mounted on theshelf with respect to said means, said elements being connected forsimultaneous retraction and readvancement to operative position in theshelf structure.

Still another object oi the invention is to provide a device oi theaforesaid character in the nature of an attachment applicable to theconventional refrigerator shell without material expense or extensivemodication of the conventional construction.

More particularly, the invention contemplates provision oi a shelfdesigned especially for use in domestic refrigerator cabinets andincorporating a device having portions adapted, in normal position, toproject at a plurality oi points beyond the marginal edges of the shelffor engagement with complementary support means in the cabinet andretractable from engagement with said support means for the purpose ofrelocation of the shell at diiierent levels within the cabinet, saiddevice comprising spring wires associated with said portions andconnected for displacement as a unit to eiect simultaneous retraction ofsaid portions from the said normal position, said spring wires actingautomatically when released to return the said portions to normalposition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the within the refrigerator cabinet, the latterbeing n shown in horizontal cross-section of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the shelf on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail illustrating the construction andcooperation .ofthe adjustable shelf supporting means; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

With reference to the drawings, 4it will be noted that the shelf I0illustrated therein is adapted to iit within a generally rectangularspace II defined in part by a back wall I2 and two opposite side wallsI3, i3. In this instance, therefore, the

as on line 2-2 shelf I0 is correspondingly rectangular in form,

with rectilinear marginal edge portions I4 and I5 dimensioned so as tocorrespond substantially to the width and depth of the space II Themarginal edge portions I4 of the shelf substantially parallel the backwall I2 and the marginal edge portions I5 substantially parallel theside walls I3 oi said space.

suitably mounted at the side edges oi the she are two pairs of elementsI8, each element .being movable in the shelf structure between a normalextended position. wherein it projects lieyondrthe marginal edge portionI5, and a retract ed position withdrawn within the conines of said edgeportion.: In. practice the elements I5 are preferably locatedrespectively adjacent the ends ofthe edge portions I5 of the shelf i0,and are normally urged into the extended positions for engagement withIsuitable complementary support means I8 on the side walls i3 so thatthe shelf, as a whole, may be detachably suspended within the space I I.It is proposed that the shell?` I0 may be selectively established atvarious levels within the space I I and, to that end the support means:I8 are formed with series of step-like recesses IS as more clearlyshown in Fig. 5.

In adcordance with the invention, provision is made for moving theelements I5 simultaneously into the retracted and extended positions.-As will appear from Figs. 2 and 4, each of the 0ppositely arrangedpairs of the elements i5 are iormedintegrally with flexible resilientrod-like elements 2li, preferably steel spring wires, by

bendingor otherwise shaping the ends of the eleinadvertent These endportions are slidable in U-shaped members 22 depending from theundersides ci the marginal edge portions l5 of the shelf. The wiresnormally lextend rectilinearly across the underside of the shelf andeach wire is of such length that the widened end portions 2| thereofVments so as to provide the widened end portions are projected forpositive engagement with the associated support means I8 on the sidewalls i3. A link 2l interconnects the mid-portions of the wires-20,which for that purpose may provided with loops 24, so that manual:dexure or lateral' bowing of one wire will be accompanied by acorresponding flexure of thc other. as represented in dotted lines inFig. 2, will retract the end portions 2| simultaneously and will therebydisengage the shelf from the support means I8. When the flexed or bowedwires are released, the wires straighten themselves and thereby returnthe end portions 2| simultaneously to positions engaging the supportmeans.v

It is to be noted that the end portions 2| of the wire 20 are bentreversely, as shown at 25 and 26 (Fig. 5), which adds to the rigidity ofsaid portions and tends to limit the sliding movements thereof in themembers 22. In order to preclude disengagement of of the wires 20 fromthe associated U-shaped members 22, threaded elements 21 may be providedon the marginal edge portions i5 of the shelf to intersect the loopedend portions 2| and to thereby prevent withdrawal of said portions fromthe U-shaped members.

While the shelf structure is capable of many uses, it is, ashereinbeiore indicated, especially useful in domestic refrigeratorcabinets of the general vtype illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein an innerliner, including the back wall I2 and the side walls il, defines a foodstorage compartment which in this case constitutes the space iiwithinwhich the adjustable shelf it is to be suspended adiustably shelves 30and 2|, and below the shelf i0. r

It will be noted that provision of the aforedescribed device involves nomaterial change in the normal construction of the shelf which may, andpreferably does, comprise a continuous rectangular frame 33, forming themarginal edge portions Il and IB, and the usual cross-wires 3d. .En asFig. 5. In such event, it is Such iiexure, l

- the invention is'not the end portions 2| with respect to the companionmounted respectively above sembling the device with the shelf, the whesEil -V may be flexed or bowed in a plane substantially f at right anglesto the plane of the shelf so that' the end portions 2l may be introducedinto the U-shaped members 22. The wires 2t may then assume their normalpositions wherein the bends 2i oi the end portions will abut adjoiningpor-- tions of the frame 33 in the manner best seen in Fig. 5, therebyassuring a symmetrical position of the wires between the side portionsiii.

' 4To locate the shelf withintherefrigerator food storage compartment orspace ii, one ci the wires 20, which in actuality will be the wirenearest the front of the shelf, may be gripped manually as by hookingthe ngers of one hand behind the midportion of said Wire, preferably atboth sides of the loop 24, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, and bythen exerting a forward pull in a plane substantially parallel to theplane ol the shelf, the interconnected wires may be flexed or bowed, asrepresented in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby retreating the endportions 2| to an extent afcrding clearance with` the supports iti andpermitting the shelf to be moved into desired position in the saidcompartment. When the wires assioma of said support means and willthereby suspend the shelf within the compartment or 890.00 Il.

Preferably, the wires 20 are associated with the shelf so that the'maiorportion ofthe wires, as

more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, will lie in close proximity to thecross-wires Il. In this manner the wires 20 may act to brace the shelfshould the same be weighted to iiex the wires downwardly about thepoints of contact with the supportmeans indicated at C in v to be notedthat because of the reverse bends 25 and 2t of the end portions 2|,these portions would be urged with increasing force into positiveengagement with the recess I9 thereby insuring retention of the loadedshelf by the supporting means.

While a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described,

vlimited thereto and that structural changes and modiiications may bemade within the scope of the appended claims.

I'claim:

1'. In a shelf having marginal edges, suspension means including anexible member provided with end portions enggeable with the shelfrespectively at different marginal edges thereof, said end portionsbeing simultaneously movable either into a projected or a retractedposition with relation to the said edges in response to flexingmovements of said member.

2. In a shelf having sion means comprising i'lexible elongated memberseach provided with end portions mounted on and located respectively atydifferent marginal edges of the shelf, said end portions being movablebetween projected and retracted positions with relation to the said`edges in response to movements oi said members, and meansinterconnecting said members ments of one are transmitted to the other.

3. In aV shelf having marginal edges, suspension means comprising exibleelongated members each provided with end portions'mounted on the shelfand located respectively at different marginal edges thereof, movablebetween projected and retracted positions with relation to the saidedges in response to ilexing movements of said members, and a linkinterconnecting the .flexible members atV lpoints intermediate the endportions thereof so that the said exing movements of one member may beaccompanied by corresponding flexing movements of the other member.

4. In a shelf having opposed marginal edges provided with'dependingU-shaped members, and suspension means for said shelves including aflexible member provided with end portions slidable in said U andretracted positions with relation t0 the said edges in response tomovements of said flexible member.

5. In a shelf having opposed marginal edges provided with dependingU-shaped members, suspension means ,for the shelf comprising flexibleelongated members each provided with end portions supported in saidU-shaped members for movements into projected and retracted positionswith relation to the said edges in response to flexing movements of saidflexible members, and means interconnecting the flexible members atpoints intermediate the end portions thereof so that said flexingmovements of one member may l down t0 an extent nding.

it is to be understood that marginalr edges. suspenso that the saidmovesaid end portions being -shaped members into projected beaccompanied by corresponding nexinz m0vements ot the other member.

6. In a shelf having opposed marginal' edges provided with dependingU-shaped members, suspension means for the shelf comprising flexibleelongated members each provided with end portionsv supported in saidU-shaped members for movements into projected and retracted positionswith relation to the said edges in response to iiexing movements of saidilexible members, and a link interconnecting the iiexible members atpoints intermediate the end portions thereof so that said flexingmovements of one member ma;1

be accompanied by corresponding flexing move-` ments oi' the othermember.

RUSSELL M. HALL.

Emmons on'nn 'UNrrEn STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Hunter Jan. 11,1898 Mohr Nov. 25, 1902 Retrzycki Mar. 1, 1927 Roberts May 15, 1883Holden Dec. 13, 1904' Harris Oct. 14, 193D

